string quartets

The Montclaire String Quartet: in Performance and Interviews with hosts Matt Jackfert and Jim Lange.

This past Wednesday, the Montclaire String Quartet stopped by the studios at West Virginia Public Radio for a live in-house performance. They performed selections from their upcoming concerts, gave their insights into the pieces and talked about the group's recent transitions. The members are from around the world but have found a home in West Virginia, and this year they welcome Cristian Fatu to the group. Here is this year's instrumentation:

Their upcoming concert is at the University of Charleston Sunday, September 14th at 3:00 PM. Tickets are available in advance by calling the Clay Center Box Office at 304-561-3570 or online at wvsymphony.org. Tickets can also be acquired at the door at 2:00 PM.

Salieri: I was staring through the cage of those meticulous ink strokes - at an absolute beauty.

I can't say I've been on a Mozart kick, but some coincidences make me wonder.

The fabulous film, Amadeus, has been in my DVD player for a while. I marvel at the sheer virtuosity of its costumes, the sets, the magnificent acting of F. Murray Abraham who plays the burdened Salieri and of course, the storyline.

Our musical tastes are often governed by the seasons. This natural process takes place without fervor nor fanfare.

So, what then is "winter music"? What music speaks to you more clearly during the frosty season? I'm not talking merely about Christmas music, but what music seems to be in accord with the snow, ice and the deep freeze?